Dartmouth artists open their studios to the public

What emotions are evoked from an unfinished treehouse? For Dartmouth artist Stephen Remick, that’s the sort of thing that conjures positive vibes.

"Everyone has unfinished projects in their yard. I like projects in the middle of it, the optimism of it," he said.

On July 15 and 16, visitors to Salt Marsh Pottery were able to view Remick’s interpretation of such a treehouse, one he spotted while doing a job through his company, Remick Painting and Paperhanging.

The unfinished treehouse, framed by green foliage, stood just inside the doorway on a six-foot canvas. A few steps further, Remick and his wife Anne Carrozza Remick greeted guests during the 14th annual Open Studio Tour. The tour welcomed the public to view the studios of and demonstrations by artists from Dartmouth, Westport, Little Compton, and Tiverton throughout the weekend.

The couple met while studying art in New Bedford, at what was then the Swain School of Design; the school was later absorbed by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Since graduation, the two have moved to Dartmouth, have two children, and each have their own studio in their Christine Drive home.

Remick — originally from Cabot, Vermont — said his inspiration lies in his woodsy, New England upbringing, and pointed to scenes of a blue tarp covering a wood pile, a snow-covered roof, and a man burning brush.

"I live in an ocean-side town, but I'm more in the mountains. She's more by the ocean," he said. "I paint on the profound side of corny," he added.

Anne, a full-time artist and West Bridgewater native, is more focused on beach-goers and still-life paintings that mirror flowers from her garden.

"I've just gotten into people swimming lately," Anne said, pointing to acrylic paintings set at Horseneck Beach, Gooseberry Island, and Dartmouth beaches. "When they're out doing natural things, they just look beautiful."

The two started participating in the South Coast Artists' studio tour four years ago, after scoping out the event and finding out how fun it is.

"I'm so inspired by what people have to say, and I sell a lot actually," said Anne. "I'm just happy people want to look at art. It's a compliment," she continued.

Roger Rosen is one of those people. The Salt Marsh Pottery studio was his second stop on Saturday.

"I like looking at art, new art," he said. While his daughter, Becky Rosen, is a New York-based artist, he said there's something special about touring studios in your home town.

"Often they paint places that we live in and that we love," he said while viewing Dartmouth artist JP Powel's paintings. "I love [Vincent] van Gogh's paintings. This sort of has the vibrancy that his works have. It jumps out at you," Rosen said.

While Powel's paintings depict scenes from France, Maine, and Oregon, familiar sites like Allen's Pond could be quickly identified.

"The landscape around here is so peaceful and compelling, but so deeply ingrained," Powel noted.

Powel, now 75, started seriously painting 50 years ago, he said, and has participated in the studio tour for the past six years.

"I'm personally on display, and it's wonderful to talk to them about it because they all see different things," he said.

The tour will continue on July 16, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and on August 19 and 20. For more information, visit SouthCoastArtists.org.

Painter Stephen Remick explains how he tends to use geometrics in both his abstract and landscape paintings.
(Photo by: Angie Hilsman)